Switch



R. S. HARDIN SWITCH Filed Nov. 16, 1923 Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAY S. HARDIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BIRTMAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SWITCH.

Application filed November 16, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAY S. HARDIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvments in switches, and more especially an electric switch. The invention is here shown embodied in a remote control switch. Although I have shown such a switch here as 7 controlled by a manually operated contact switch, it is obvious that it may be controlled by a thermostat or any other device operating at a distance.

My improved switch may be very easily and cheaply constructed and will be found eflicient and quick in operation and very Other features and advantages of the in 7 llO-volt A. G.

' former in order to give a lower voltage such vention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

In that form of device embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a switch, showing diagrammatically one form of wiring for a remote control, Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the switch, and Fig. 3 is a view taken as indicated by the line 3 of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawings, 10 indicates in general any suitable panel, base or support upon which the switch is mounted. The details of the switch itself will be explained hereinafter. 11, 11 indicate wires leading from any suitable source of supply of electrical energy such as, for example, 12 indicates a suitable transas, for example, six volts for operating the switch. The output of the transformer is carried by the wires 13, 13 to the solenoid 14 of the switch. In the lead 13 is placed a manually'operated control switch 15. From Serial No. 675,129.

the two wires 11, 11, two leads 16 and 16 are also taken to any electrical device indicated in general by 17, which, for example, may be a motor. The switch 10 is placed in the lead 16 in order to cut off or permit flow of current through the motor 17.

I will now describe more in detail the switchitself. The solenoid 14 is supported by means of a bracket 18 attached to the panel 10 by means of the screw 19. Below the solenoid there is attached to the panel 10 a rectangular-shaped piece of metal 20 having its two sides 20 bent up parallel to each other and at right angles to the panel 10. Pivotally supported between the plates 20 on the short rotatable shaft 21, is a bell-crank 22 having a long substantially horizontal arm 22 and a shortersubstantially vertical arm 22". The arm 22 carries pivotally attached at its end a vertical core or armature 23, the upper end of which extends up into the electromagnet or sole noid 1 1. Pivotally attached at 24, 24 to the plates 20 is a substantially vertical inverted U-shaped rocker arm 25 which carries on its upper end a downwardly and backwardly projecting contact plate 26. Behind the contact plate 26 is another con tact plate 27 mounted on a spring 28 attached to the panel 10 by means of a bolt 29 which forms on its outer end a binding post 30 to which is attached one of the wires 16 The other wire 16 is attached to a binding post 31 which comprises a bolt 32 extending through the panel 10 and holding the plate 20 in place. A loop of wire 33 limits the outward rocking movement of the rocker arm 25. A spiral spring 3 1 connects the upper end of the rocker arm 25 to the upper end of the short arm 22 of the bell-crank 22. A stop 35 is also provided to limit the downward movement of the armature 23. This armature is somewhat loosely mounted in the solenoid l l so that free upward and downward movement is permitted without binding or jamming. The upward movement of the armature is limited by engagement of its end 23 with the bracket 18 at the top of the solenoid.

The switch is closed when the contact plates 26 and 27 are in contact, and open when they are separated. In Fig. 2 the switch is shown open by the solid lines and closed by the broken lines. It is to be noted.

that when the switch is open the spring 84 connecting the rocker arm 25and the arm 22 lies to the left (as viewed in' Fig. 2) of the pivot point 24 of the rocker arm; and that when it is closed the spring lies to the right. It willbe seen, therefore, that the rocker arm 25, the arm 22 and they spring 34 act as a sort of toggle arrangement. The

spring 34 is of such length that when the" is its, farthestdistance out. For this reason it is veryv desirable to have the spring 34 give some ."assistancein raising the armature at this point. .Vhen the switchl5 is closed so that 'c-urrentflows through the coil 14, the spring 34 assists in starting the upward movement of the armature 23 which is drawn upintothe coil. As thearmature is drawn up, the arm 2 swings to the right (as viewed in Fig. 2) untilthe spring passes the pivot point 24 whenthe tension of the spring snaps the rockerarm 25 to; the right.

to bring the contact plate 26 into contact with the plate 27to close the switch. It is to be noted that when the switchis closed with the partsin thepositions shown by the broken lines in Fig. 2,%the spring 34exerts a pullholding the plate 26against-the plate 27 to make a firm contact. WVhen in this position, the spring 34also tends to pull the arm 22 to the leftto lower the armature 23 but when the partsvare in this position,the armature is fully up in the solenoid and held firmlyby the electromagnetic force and consequently not pulled down by the'spring 34. Upon opening of the circuit-13, 13*, the armature falls so thatthe arm 22 rocks to the left until the spring 34 passes the pivot point 24 when it snaps-the contact plate 26 away from the contact plate27.

It is to be particularly noted that the singlespiral spring 34 performs three functions. In-thefirst place, when the switch is open it serves to give an initial upward pull to the armature 23 to assist the electromag netic force at the start of the movement of.

the armature 'In the secondplace, as the armature rises and the arm 22 swings to the right, the spiral spring (upon passing the pivot point- 24) serves to snap the plate 26 into contact with the plate 27 and press the same into such contact. In the third place, as the switch opens and the arm 22 swings to the left, the spiral spring (after ing of said arm;

be brought into or it passes the contact point 24) pulls the contact plate 26 away from thep-late 27 with a S1121 3.

ti l1ile- I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope oftheinvention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it: is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention. as broadlyas possible in view of the prionart. It is to be. noted thatthe upward pull of the-spiral sprin-g'on the armature assistsithe electromagnetic force at the start of the upward movement of thearmature and consequently saves current-or in other words, per m'its the operation of the switch with a smaller current than would be required'ifjthe spring did not thus assist the upward movement of thearmaturen This feature is particularly desirable in connection with switches having remote .thermostatic --controls. In such switches, it is undesirable and attimes, impossible to use a heavy current. hat I claim as nev, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is: L

1. ;In a device of the character described; a contact piece; a terminal electrically connected thereto; a second contact piece mounted ontlieswingingend of a pivoted rocker arm, whereby said contact pieces may be brought into or out of contact by swinga terminal electrically connected to said second contact piece;-a solenoid having an armature movable therein; and a spring connected between, said rocker arm and the armature whereby when said armature is in its outer position with'respect to the solenoid, said spring exerts a pull on the armature toward the solenoid and a pull 0I1l-l'1G-1OCl 81"2LIII1 to separate the contacts. v v

2. In a deviceof the character a contact piece; a' terminal electrically connectcd thereto; a second contact piece mounted on the swinging end of a pivoted rocker arm, whereby said contact pieces may out of contact by swinging of said arm; a terminal electrically connected to said second contact piece; a solenoid having an armature movable therein;

described;

and a spring connected between said rocker a contact piece; a terminal electrically connected thereto; a second contact piece mounted on the swinging end of a pivoted rocker arm, whereby said contact pieces may be brought into or out of contact by swinging of said arm; a terminal electrically connected to said second contact piece; a solenoid having an armature movable therein; a bell-crank having one arm connected to the armature; and a spring connected between the other arm of the belhcrank and the rocker arm, whereby movement of the armature to its outer position with respect to the solenoid causes said spring to exert a pull on the armature toward the solenoid and a pull on the rocker arm to separate the contacts, and movement of the armature to its inner position with respect to the solenoid causes said spring to exert a pull on said armature away from the solenoid and a pull on the rocker arm to hold the contacts together.

a. In combination, a contact piece mounted on the swinging end of a rocker arm; a bell-crank pivotally mounted near the pivot point of said rocker arm, one arm of said bell-crank being movable to either side of the line joining said pivot points; a spring connecting the end of said arm and the swinging end of said rocker arm; a second contact piece lying adjacent the contact piece on the swinging end of said rocker arm; and a stop on the other side of said rocker arm, whereby, when the end of the spring attached to the bell-crank is moved across said line said spring will act to rock said rocker arm to close or separate said contacts; a solenoid having an armature vertically movable therein; and a pivotal connection between said armature and the other arm of the bell-crank, whereby movement of the armature in the solenoid operates to move said spring from one side to the other of the line joining the pivot points of the rocker arm and the bell-crank, the tension on said spring being sutficient to tend to raise the armature when it is in its lower position and tend to lower it when it is in its upper position.

5. I11 combination, a contact piece mounted on the swinging end of a rocker arm; a bell-crank pivotally mounted near the pivot point of said rocker arm, one arm of said bell-crank being movable to either side of the line joining said pivot points; a spring connecting the end of said arm and the swinging end of said rocker arm; a second contact piece lying adjacent the contact piece on the swinging end of said rocker arm and a stop on the other side of said rocker arm, whereby, when the end of the spring attached to the bell-crank is moved across said line said spring will act to rock said rocker arm to close or separate said contacts; a solenoid having an armature vertically movable therein; a pivotal connection between said armature and the other arm of the bell-crank; whereby said spring operates to exert an upward pull on the armature when it is in its lower position and, at the same time, rock said rocker arm to separate the contacts, and said spring operates to exert a downward pull on said armature when it is in its upper position and, at the same time, pull said rocker arm to hold the contacts together.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of November, 1923.

RAY S. HARDIN. 

